Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
    Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • About MCN
  • Careers
  • MCNTalk
  • Contact Us

MCN | Medical Consultants Network

The Power of a Second Look

  • Services
    • Independent Medical Examinations
    • Medical Peer Reviews
    • Bill Review Services
    • Utilization Reviews
  • Expertise
    • Short and Long-Term Disability
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Auto/PIP/Casualty/Liability
    • Independent Review Organization Services
  • For Clients
  • For Providers
  • Your Exam
    • About Your Exam
    • About Your External Review
    • Contact & Scheduling
  • Schedule Now
  • About MCN
  • MCNTalk
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

MCNTalk
News, Insights & Opinions

Home / MCNTalk / CMS Drops Coverage for TENS to Treat Chronic Lower Back Pain

September 6, 2012

CMS Drops Coverage for TENS to Treat Chronic Lower Back Pain

After a systematic review of studies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concluded that it would drop coverage for the use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for chronic low back pain. In a memo sent out in June, CMS stated, ““TENS is not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of [chronic low back pain].”

Before the decision, Medicare paid for FDA-approved TENS equipment when prescribed by a physician and reimbursed physicians and physical therapists for evaluating patients’ suitability for the treatment. The TENS units are usually small, portable battery operated devices that deliver electrical currents to the skin through electrodes. While TENS treatment is widespread, its efficacy is debated due to inadequate reporting and methodology in early studies.

With CMS nixing the viability of TENS, Medicare will no longer cover most TENS treatments except for patients enrolled in new clinical studies of the treatment.

The move could not ony set a precedent for denial of coverage of non-pharmacologic pain treatments, it might also have a large impact on Workers’ Compensations and Auto Insurance markets. Read More…

47.608945-122.332015

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Print

Tagged: Cost Containment, Health Policy, Workers' Compensation 2 Comments

Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill Yancey says

    September 10, 2012 at 2:56 pm

    There are other things that also work:

    In large scientifically planned studies of individuals with back pain, the following treatments have been found to have some merit statistically, i.e. they appear to be more useful than placebo treatments. They apparently accelerate the healing process and/or diminish pain while healing occurs.

    Rest, but not prolonged bed rest.
    Ice, applied to areas of pain.
    Heat, applied to areas of pain, muscle spasm.
    NSAIDs (aspirin, Aleve, Motrin, etc.) taken as directed.
    Muscle relaxing medication taken as directed.
    Massage by PT, chiropractor, massage therapist.
    Mobilization of joints by PT, chiropractor, or massage therapist.
    Walking, slowly increasing activity.
    Yoga
    Instruction on lifting techniques, posture, body mechanics.
    Rarely, surgery for severe stenosis, severe spodylolithesis, sequestered herniated disc fragments, intractable pain, neurological deficits, or hemorrhage into the spinal cord.

    Bill Yancey, MD
    Whatyourdoctor dot b l o g s p o t dot c o m

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Quality Divide: What Makes a Quality IME Physician?
  • The Quality Divide: Is Your Vendor Driving IME Excellence?
  • The Quality Divide: When and How to Request an IME?
  • April Clinic Calendars Are Available
  • MCN’s Client Portal Login Page is Changing

Archives

Footer


  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Quick Links

  • Services
  • Expertise
  • About MCN
  • Careers

Division Headquarters

MCN
1200 5th Ave., Ste. 650
Seattle, WA 98101

See all offices

Email Us

General Inquiries: info@mcn.com
Sales & Marketing: marketing@mcn.com

Call Us

206.343.6100
800.248.6269

© Copyright 2023 Mitchell International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap